National Assembly Launches Women's Caucus for Special Seats Bill

The Nigerian National Assembly inaugurated the Women's Caucus in Abuja to support the Special Seats Bill as the constitutional amendment vote approaches. This initiative, commemorating International Women's Day, aims to enhance women's representation in governance by proposing six additional Senate seats per geopolitical zone and 37 additional House of Representatives seats per state.

The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, emphasized that the proposed legislation is designed to address women's representation in elected offices.

The bill, first introduced in the 9th National Assembly, was reintroduced in the 10th Assembly and passed its second reading in July 2024. The House leadership, represented by Tajudeen Abba and Kafilat Ogbara, reaffirmed their commitment to improving women's political participation.

The bill seeks to deepen inclusivity in Nigeria's democratic framework and is supported by various stakeholders, including international partners.